Yet another horror novel that made me cry.

This book was such a fun read. I really liked the group of characters, especially the main character, Rose. She was a really strong and interesting main character. She felt real, and I enjoyed seeing how she grew through the story. I enjoy reading characters who are flawed, as Rose definitely was. Setting the story in a retirement home was a cool and fresh take on the usual slasher story.

There were definitely creepy and scary parts, but the dark humor made it feel balanced and not too heavy. I would recommend this for horror lovers and people who don’t read the genre alike. The murders were graphic, but not overly so. I especially liked how we got to see the points of view of the victims before they died. Every time I turned the page, I hoped it wouldn’t be one of the characters I liked.

The deaths were believable but also creative—no two were the same. The pacing was great too; I was never bored. I was also surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Fracassi did a great job keeping me guessing until the end.

Rose is a very well thought out main character, who is not flawed. I really enjoyed her character development.

4.25 stars, incredible!

This is both scary AND tender, as we follow Rose and some of her fellow retirement community residents through the horrific tragedies that fall upon them. It is expected for there to be the death here and there, but when people are dying in strange ways, Rose is certain that something darker is going on.

Rose is such an incredible protagonist. You don’t usually get the perspective of an older main character. Rose is brave and strong-willed, but she (and the rest of the residents) are not as agile. Still, she stops at nothing to uncover the truth.

This was really creepy. The various deaths within the community were each more devastating than the last. You care for these sweet old people and Fracassi doesn’t hold back.

This was really well done. I loved the plot, the characters, the pacing. Just a really solid psychological slasher horror!

May 21 update: Posted on TikTok today
A series of deaths at their retirement home arouse the suspicions of Rose and her friends.
Philip Fracassi delivers slasher horror with dark humor and darker edges. Once I got into this one, I raced through it, compelled to find out what would happen next.

The intriguing characters, disturbing crimes, engaging investigations, and unusual mix of tenderness, wit, and psychological / crime / classic Horror captivated me.

There's a serious underlying take on aging, ageism, and death. I relished the film and fiction references throughout the novel. The balance between the at times playful tone, the grisly scenes, emotional depth, and intense suspense is masterful. The final scenes keyed up the tension and kept going at full throttle.

I appreciated the context in the Afterward. This was my second novel by Philip Fracassi and I’m looking forward to reading more of his books. Highly recommended for seasoned horror readers.

Thank you, Tor | Nightfire, for the e-ARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.
I'll add the the TikTok link.

Phillip Fracassi has written another incredible, gore-filled emotional masterpiece. While this book is over 400 pages, I never felt bogged down with details or felt like the story slowed.  It’s like every word had a place and purpose, and I didn’t want to miss a single one.

Meet Rose DuBois- the most unlikely final girl in a forgotten generation.  This story steps you into the life of Rose & her friends who reside in a senior living community.  Rose has sharp senses and suspects foul play when another member of their community is found dead.  Though ruled an accident, Rose can’t shake the feeling in her gut that something isn’t right. Along with her companions and a slow-to-act detective, Rose tries to uncover the truth.  And when the bodies start piling up and suspicions are confirmed that there’s a killer on the loose, Rose must make the choice to leave or face her fears head on.  But in her eyes, what is death to someone who already doesn’t feel seen?

Fracassi seamlessly weaves multiple POV’s with a story that stars a particular group not commonly represented in fiction: Seniors. And it checked off all the boxes for me: gripping suspense, remarkable characters, exceptional writing, supernatural & folklore elements, mystery & drama, all the while keeping me guessing, staying true to the horror genre and being insightful and impactful.  That’s a tall order and Fracassi delivered on a bloody, silver platter.

It wasn’t until I read the Afterword that I realized why this one felt more personal, as Fracassi reveals how his own experience helped to shape this book to bring in some very real human moments, especially involving senior care. This story explores what it means to be surrounded by community, embrace deep companionship & redefine what “home” means.

I absolved this book! Be prepared for a wide range of emotions and a potential existential crisis with this one. And be sure to grab a copy in September!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Philip Fracassi for the #gifted eARC.

"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒆, 𝒏𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒌𝒔."

Fracassi is slowly becoming one of my favorite horror authors, I will devour anything this man writes.

𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🌹Slasher novels
🕵🏼‍♀️Dark humor
🌹Deep character development
🕵🏼‍♀️Unique settings (retirement home)

A fall, suicide, and a heart attack: the death of three within a week has the elderly residents shaken, thinking there might be something sinister happening at The Autumn Springs Retirement Home. Especially when a person in all black is seen lurking at windows in the middle of the night.

This isn't your typical slasher novel, it dives into themes such as family, love, and trust. The story showcases what it's means to reach the later years of life and how it impacts the individual and their loved ones. You truly feel connected to each character and their story throughout, which makes some of their deaths even harder.

I tore through this book, although it's over 400 pages, I could have easily finished the entire novel in one sitting. This is easily one of the most beautifully written horror stories I've ever read. One particular death had me in tears, not from sadness, but from pure joy (IYKYK).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Fracassi writes horror in a way that anyone can enjoy. Whether you are a die hard horror fan, or brand new to the genre, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Mark this release down on your calendar NOW!

Rose DuBois is spending her twilight years at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home—but peace and quiet are nowhere to be found. When fellow residents start dying under strange circumstances, Rose and her best friend Miller begin to suspect foul play. Their investigation leads them down a dark, bloody path in this slasher full of violence, mystery, and sharp-tongued humor. But with a killer on the loose, will Rose solve the case in time—or become the next victim?

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a fresh, funny, and unexpectedly emotional twist on the slasher formula. What starts as a quirky horror story quickly unfolds into a surprisingly layered tale about friendship, aging, and the strength it takes to keep going—even when the world keeps falling apart around you.

Rose DuBois is a phenomenal protagonist: sharp-tongued, no-nonsense, and someone you can’t help but root for. I adored her dynamic with Miller, and the way their relationship grounded the story even when the blood started to fly. While I’m normally hesitant with multiple points of view, each character here felt distinct and worth following—and the author never let the pacing suffer because of it. The deaths were impactful, the tension stayed high, and the mystery kept me hooked until the very last page.
I’ll admit I thought I had everything figured out and was pleasantly humbled by how wrong I was. The ending may not be for everyone, but personally, I loved it—it hit the right balance of bleak and brilliant. This is a standout horror novel with teeth and heart. I definitely recommend giving this a read.

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre has a little bit of everything. It’s a well crafted whodunnit, slasher that has richly developed characters and heart. Not to mention it takes place in the most unusual of settings for a murder mystery, a retirement home. I enjoyed the ride from beginning to end and Philip Fracassi continues to impress me with his depth and a range of story. Every book of his feels fresh and new. Truly a must read author.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Decent horror with bits of dark humor throughout. A fresh storyline with a new characterization of a "slasher." Set in a retirement community with elderly characters written with great insight and empathy. Wasn't thrilled with the final pieces, as it didn't bring a lot of insight. All in all, definitely recommend for horror fans #theautumnspringsretirementhomemassacre #phillipfracassi #netgalley #goodreads

For readers seeing the slasher movie vibes of this novel and thinking it's going to be a fun and popcorn-type of horror, beware.

I was captivated but horrified and beyond melancholic at the helplessness for the fates of the cast of characters.

Blame the strong character writing that makes Autumn Springs as a community feel so lived in but each death hurts more than the last. There isn't one member of the body count that gave me the inkling to want them to meet their demise like lesser slashers have in the past.

I think that messaging, though, with critiques on the blind eye towards elder abuse is effective.

The cast of characters is so large, though, that while I enjoyed it, other readers might be overwhelmed by the number.

In some ways, I hate this book for what it has done. It makes me want to reread the first chapter and set it down, pretend the rest of what I have read hasn't happened, and they are all okay. That's the mark of good horror. I haven't felt horrified like that from a book in a long time.

4.5/5

What if your grandma starred in a slasher movie?

This book brings a very different brand of horror, as it sees a masked killer targeting senior citizens. There’s no limber final girls here, our main character Rose Dubois is in her 80s and has nothing but her wit and will.

This was a super fun read, but not only does the author craft a great slasher, but shows an oddly intimate view in what it’s like to be older and forgotten by society. The author himself lost his parents in the process of writing the book and you can feel the grief and feelings of helpless isolation oozing from the page.

Even if spooky season is a few months away, this was a very welcome spooky spring read.

**Thank you Tor and Net Galley for the ARC**
***Video version of review on TikTok, Youtube and Instagram will follow soon on social***

🩸 Book Review 🩸

So I first fell in love with @pfracassi work after reading A Child Alone With Strangers and Boys In The Valley. So I knew when I saw this on @netgalley I NEEDED to read it. I’m so damn glad I did! This was so good! It was bloody, it was heartbreaking, and it makes you stop and think about the older generation of people in your life, and what a blessing they are to us. It’s part slasher with a sprinkle of supernatural elements, and a lot of death. I loved this book. So much so I preordered the UK version from @waterstones 😍

In a quaint retirement home in a wooded area all by itself, residents are suddenly dying. Dying in the most cruel and horrific ways but, the deaths are made to look like suicides or accidents. However one woman, our MC Rose, knows that it’s something more sinister at work. Will they figure it out before more people lose their lives?

Summary:

Rose DuBois is not your average final girl.

Rose is in her late 70s, living out her golden years at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home.

When one of her friends dies alone in her apartment, Rose isn’t too concerned. Accidents happen, especially at this age!

Then another resident drops dead. And another. With bodies stacking up, Rose can’t help but wonder: are these accidents? Old age? Or something far more sinister?

Together with her best friend Miller, Rose begins to investigate. The further she digs, the more convinced she becomes: there’s a killer on the loose at Autumn Springs, and if she isn’t careful, Rose may be their next victim.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @pfracassi for the e-arc! Publication Date: September 30th, 2025.

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #horrorbookstagram #horrorbooks #slasher #slasherbooks #retirement #retirementhome #netgalley #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readmorehorror #readmorebooks

TASRHM was a fun slasher romp with a lot of heart. I rated it 4/5 stars for its captivating characters and compelling premise. While the ending was slightly underwhelming, I still felt like it was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. More to come on TikTok.

Rating 4.5 rounded up.

What is happening at this Autumn Springs Retirement Home? Man this was a fast paced, get right to the action slasher. I enjoyed all the twist, turns and conspiracy theories (witchcraft/ aliens) for the deaths. But it really boils down to the fact that old people are just overlooked or in some cases even invisible. Everyone just assumes they died of old age related issues. This book was a fast fun and wild ride with many twists and turns. I will admit some were expected but most were not. Honestly what’s not to love? A slasher horror with murder and torture but without all the whiney angsty teens.

A slasher novel based in a nursing home, yes you heard me correctly. Philip Fracassi's The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a bold, unique horror packed with a bit of dark humor, violence, and mystery that will have you guessing until the final page. Set in an unexpected location with a reimagined final girl, this novel is a wild, suspenseful ride.

Rose DuBois is not your average final girl. Rose is in her late 70s, living out her golden years at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home. When one of her friends dies alone in her apartment, Rose isn’t too concerned. Accidents happen, especially at this age! Then another resident drops dead. And another. With bodies stacking up, Rose can’t help but wonder: are these accidents? Old age? Or something far more sinister?

Together with her best friend Miller, Rose begins to investigate. The further she digs, the more convinced she becomes: there’s a killer on the loose at Autumn Springs, and if she isn’t careful, Rose may be their next victim.

Philip Fracassi is at it once again with an entirely original horror story in The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, delivering a slasher story with a twist and a reimagined final girl. By setting this tale in a nursing home, Fracassi takes the horrors to a rarely seen corner of society which results in an unforgettable and fun read. No one really expects a horror novel told from a nursing home–which adds a bit of dark humor to the book–but here we are.

While the book falls squarely in the horror genre, it leans towards a more mainstream and accessible side of horror. It's a thrilling tale without excessive blood or gore–not saying there isn't any–but a tale for those looking for something more approachable. Beyond the horror elements, Fracassi integrates thriller and mystery vibes as well. The author also weaves in a few heartfelt moments that struck an emotional cord, creating a unique blend of terror and tenderness. Not to mention how Fracassi sheds light on an often-overlooked part in society, the elderly. Philip shows how real-life horrors are not just the jump scares, but lie in the heartbreaking truths about aging and society's sometime disregard of the older population.

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre features an amazing cast of characters. Fracassi pulls us into a crowd of relatable and lovable people that you can help but root for–even knowing their fates are likely not going to go well. This emotional attachment heights the suspense and tension, making for a rollercoaster of emotions.

Truthfully there is not much to dislike about this book, but if I were to put my finger on anything it was the length. Coming in at over 400 pages, there were moment I felt the story could've benefited from slight trimming to streamline the story. However, this does not in anyway take away from the over reading experience and was still an amazing story with an innovative premise that had me quickly turning each page.

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre stands out as a unique tale in the horror genre. Philip Fracassi crafts a horror story with a clever setting, amazing characters, emotional depth, and thrilling kills. Fans of the author will truly love this novel, while those looking for something unique in the world of horror should definitely pick up this book.

Fracassi delivers a slasher unlike any you’ve read or seen before and in Rose Dubois gives us a final girl to die for. When one thinks of settings for a slasher I can guarantee very few think retirement home, but Philip Fracassi is a mad genius and somehow it works. More than just works, it is thrilling, funny, and most of all moving. I was brought to tears a few times throughout. While fear of the killer and bodies piling up is normal for slasher fare, Fracassi makes us confront another deeper fear, getting old. The breaking down of our bodies, our minds. The loss of those we love, the abandonment by those who we thought would always be there. The heartache of losing all the things that made you, you. But also the hope that you can still find friendship and companion ship and joy even in the twilight years. It was really emotional. Fracassi is one of those writers that reminds me of Stephen King. He just has a remarkable storytelling voice that takes you by the end and leads you along and that’s on full display here. Autumn Springs is a living, breathing retirement community populated by a cast of wonderful characters. It needs to be a movie as soon as possible. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Tor publishing for this ARC! Pre-order this one!

Thank you to Tor, Phillip Fracassi, and Netgalley for my digital ARC of this book.

One of the freshest voices in horror, Phillip Fracassi, does what he does best in the Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre - write a scary story with a surprising amount of heart and character.

Rose, the resident of a quiet retirement community in the Northeast, finds herself at the center of a murder mystery as the residents of her community begin to die off one by one. At first, the deaths can be written off as old age or accidental - but as time goes by Rose begins to suspect - and rightly so - that someone is targeting the residents of Autumn Springs and there very well may be a killer among them.

This may sound like a quaint mystery novel but Murder She Wrote it is not. Rose must not only puzzle through what is happening to her friends but do her best to survive. She has to decide who around her she can trust and who might be a killer. And some of the deaths are rather gruesome, though not gratuitous.

One thing Fracassi does exceptionally well is write compelling characters. They feel very real, with their own stories and wants and when one dies, each feels like a blow. As with his previous novels, there is a touch of the paranormal to the story but it is not nearly as much as in his previous works such as Boys in the Valley. This story is, for the most part, grounded in reality, and explores themes such as aging, love, trust, and community.

I enjoyed this book and was compelled to read and see if I could figure out the whodunnit (and the why). It was a pretty solid mystery but what sets this novel apart really is the strength of its characters. This was a solid 3.5 stars rounded up and I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy the genre.

It’s always so weird saying I loved a book that’s full of murder and torture, but The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre was fabulous. There’s a serial killer stalking the residents of the Autumn Springs Retirement home, but the cops and the administrators seem to think that the deaths, at least the first couple, are just accidents. Old people die. Rose DuBois is convinced otherwise, and she and a few of her friends start investigating.

Rose is a fabulous character. She’s smart and tough. She has flaws, of course, but she makes a great final girl. All the residents we are introduced to are so well drawn, so full of life and character. I actually had to skip a chapter because I didn’t want to read about that particular character’s death. And a lot of them die. We get the requisite amount of blood and gore and terror for a slasher novel. It’s funny and surprisingly emotional for me. We also get a look at how society views/treats our elderly.

The book moves at a quick pace, with short chapters that make is seem less than 400 pages long. I can’t say I was surprised at who the killer turned out to be, but it fit well with the plot. I’ve read two horror books this year, a genre a don’t gravitate towards, but have thoroughly enjoyed them both.

This novel was so much fun. It took a pretty set in stone trope, a slasher novel, and completely changed the game. Fracassi focuses on the elderly in this book, a population that so rarely graces the pages of novels, and even more rarely in the horror genre. But, Fracassi committed to this group of characters and showed that to the reader. He is generous with his details and weaves together fully formed individuals with his words, individuals that the reader comes to know and care for. This book is fast paced and brimming with death and gore, yes, but it is also an exploration of life and a life well lived. Fracassi and his characters cut the reader open and slowly stitch them back together again. The writing is phenomenal, the character development astounding, the storyline addicting, and the twist jaw dropping. There is love, there is found family and friendship, there is fear, there is sadness and heartbreak. It is a sincerely outstanding book and well worth the read.

What a fun take on slashers and final girls! This is my first book by Philip, and it definitely won’t be my last. This book has lots of humor and heart, but still satisfies the dark side of a good slasher flick. Definitely recommend!

This is the horror version of the very popular “septuagenarian and octogenarians solving crimes” mysteries that are being published right now.
Other than the ages of the mains; there are no teenagers running upstairs instead of out the door and no exploring the creepy dark basement, this is a basic slasher story that follows the basic slasher rules.
Rose was supposed to have a mysterious background, but it was easily figured out if you paid attention; the red herrings were obvious; and the end has an open to interpretation event that some will truly not appreciate.
Basically, this is a good slasher story not a great book. If you like slashers, go ahead give this a try, if you’re looking for more, maybe try something else.